#122: Getting More Comfortable with Mental Illness

FROM THIS SHOW…

Do you find yourself wishing for simpler days? For many with a bipolar disorder, thinking back on childhood is sometimes the only comfort they can count on. The painful realities of diagnosis, from having to completely reconstruct their identity, to feeling left out of friend groups are sometimes all-consuming. Is there any way to feel in touch with ourselves when there’s mental illness?

If you ask Mike Lardi, the answer is a very confident yes. And on today’s episode of The Bipolar Now Podcast he shares a few simple but powerful ways to get back in line with how we want to feel about ourselves. It turns out there’s a way to “come home” to the diagnosis, but only if you’re willing to open the door.

You don’t want to miss it!

Listen to the podcast:

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TAKEAWAYS

• It’s possible to get comfortable with something as uncomfortable as mental illness. But to get there, you’ve got to be committed to the process. All of life transforms when you start to nail this!

• Getting comfortable with bipolar diagnosis requires telling others, making it understandable through personal research and education, experiencing it until it becomes predictable, figuring out with your doctor how to make it more tolerable, and living it out through being honorable.

• Just like owning a home, owning a real life mental disorder means you’ll have to do routine maintenance on all of these things. But the reward is always a healthy pride, increased satisfaction and increased comfort.

Lifer Discussion Guide

Use the questions in today’s Lifer Guide to assist you over any hurdles you may have to clear as you address your mental health. These are special conversations!

“Lifers” are people who have unwavering faithfulness. This assures you that they’ll stick by you through all the highs and lows that are normal for a life with mental health challenges. If you haven’t nominated a lifelong family member or friend as part of your non-medical support team, what are you waiting for? :-)

The Questions:

1) What was your most memorable bedroom as a kid and what did you do there?

2) When did bipolar disorder first start making your life uncomfortable?

3) Did your room or living environment change because of your new symptoms? / How did it change?

4) How comfortable are you with your bipolar diagnosis? / Are you getting more familiar with it?

5) Which one of your symptoms or symptom clusters (groups of simultaneous symptoms) cause you the most discomfort these days?

6) Is there anything you need to do find more comfort in your diagnosis?

Join the Tribe!

Once you’ve had a chance to talk or journal about these things you might have a question from this episode. If so, make sure you head on over to The Bipolar Now Podcast Network on Facebook! There’s quite a few people over there who are also taking a new step in their mental health. And we’d love for you to share your story with us when you’re ready. So don’t miss out!